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BRIEF: CES 2013: Mozilla previews upcoming Firefox OS mobile software

LAS VEGAS, Jan 08, 2013 (Los Angeles Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Mozilla, the nonprofit organization that brought the world the Firefox Web browser, has been working on a mobile operating system that is set to debut later this year. And we got a chance to look at it.

Mozilla developer Christian Heilmann brought a developer phone running Firefox OS to Digital Experience, an event Monday night leading up to opening day of CES.

Firefox OS looked pretty slick as Heilmann gave me a tour through the software. The interface is like a cross between Apple's iOS and Google's Android operating system. Apps line up in rows similarly to the iPhone, but overall, the interface comes off more playful, like Android.

The entire software is based off of HTML 5. That, Heilmann said, lets anyone who is capable of building a website build an app for Firefox OS.

The Mozilla operating system is set to debut this year. Firefox OS will first appear in Brazil with a low-cost phone by Telefonica.

Firefox OS is expected to eventually make its way to the U.S., but the exact timing is still up in the air, Mozilla told The Times.

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